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SNP agrees that drug use should be seen as ‘health issue rather than criminal matter’

An amended resolution on drug reform has been passed at the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) annual conference.

The resolution stated:

Conference agrees that current drug policy requires a comprehensive review and believes approaching substance misuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter would greatly support families and communities; lift the stigma associated with addiction; remove barriers between police and communities and allow policy to reflect the values of our progressive society.

There was also a later amendment to the resolution which included:

Conference further calls for all powers relating to drugs policy to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, so that the review can consider all options for harm reduction, including drug classification, decriminalisation, legalisation and regulation.

The conference agreed to all of the above and believes that there should be a comprehensive review considering “all options for harm reduction, including drug classification, decriminalisation, legalisation and regulation”.